First responders climb Wilco building stairs to honor firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11

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“Taps” sounded throughout downtown Midland on Sept. 15 as firefighters, police officers and tactical support teams filed into the Wilco Building for the second annual Tall City 911 Memorial Stair Climb. The first responders started at the Bank of America building and marched to the Wilco building behind the music of a bagpiper playing “Taps.”

Once inside, the first responders started climbing the 22 flights of stairs in honor of their comrades who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Once they reached the top floor, the first responders took the elevators down and started climbing again. They climbed the 22-story building five times to represent the 110 floors of the World Trade Center.

Family, friends and well-wishers were on hand to cheer on the men and women as they departed the elevators to climb back to the top. First responders came from as far away as Oklahoma and New Mexico to participate in the Midland stair climb. Cities all over the country host the climbs to support the families and honor the New York City firefighters who lost their lives 17 years ago.

The Professional Firefighters Association of Midland hosted the Midland event, which included an outdoor concert featuring Stateline Band and the Electric Gypsies.